Kittisawat Dynasty and Theerapanyakul Dynasty have been at war for almost ten years. War for power and the throne has been hanging above the two kingdoms like the most vicious storm... However, His Majesty Kimhan has a plan.
"Is Your Majesty sure th...
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"The hunters said that the last time they saw the Voidings it was in this area a couple of kilometres away from what used to be the borders between our two kingdoms," Big explains and points at the map spread out on the heavy wooden table in the palace military hall.
"Did they ever get so close to the borders before?" Porchay asks.
"Once... hundreds of years ago. Voidings are sensitive to the changes in the world around them, to the environment. They must have sensed that the war was coming to an end. They may even sense the fact that the two kingdoms are merging into one. That's why they got closer than usual, but..." Big points at the dark triangular shape north of the royal palace. "This is the place they can be easily found. I did some research. They seem to like The Raven Forest a lot. So, if we want to kill some, I suggest we'll go there."
"What's with them and forests?" Porchay asks. "The last time it was forest as well, wasn't it?"
"They can be well hidden there, that's it," Kimhan explains and points at a bridge just outside The Raven Forest. "We can lure them out on this bridge. They won't be able to hide behind trees and will be spotted much easier."
"Yes, but we won't be able to hide either," Porchay points out.
"You can't really hide from the Voiding. Once it spots you... it's over," Big says.
"Over for them," Kimhan says. "The last time they attacked us, it went bad, but this time, we'll be prepared."
"You better stay unharmed this time, Kimhan!" Porchay glares at his husband. "What if I don't decide to heal you this time?"
"Alright, first of all—this hunting was your idea, little flower. And second of all—you will always heal me because you love me."
Big awkwardly clears his throat and looks at Kimhan, "should I go prepare our horses, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, go do that."
When Big leaves, Kimhan brackets his husband between him and the table. Hands on Porchay's hips, he says gently, "you still want to go through it, little flower? We had a lot of dangerous things happening to us recently, do we really want to add another one?"
"Those Voidings... they are not good for the kingdom. They are hurting people, aren't they? I think it's our responsibility to do anything we can to make this kingdom safer for our people. And if we can do that with some hunting trips here and there so why not do it then?"
"Alright," Kimhan smiles. "We'll do anything my husband wants. Time to hunt."
"Time to hunt," Porchay smiles back and hugs his husband tightly, pressing his lips to Kimhan's cheek.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
It's eerily ominous how similar this forest is to the one they were in the first time they were hunting those things. So quiet, so cold—even though it's not winter, and this time it's not Kim who is doing it. The breeze dances over their hair, and every step their horses make echoes through the forest so loudly that Porchay thinks there's no way the Voidings haven't spotted them yet. They have to be everywhere around them. He can feel their eyes on his skin, at the back of his head, burning holes into his body. He just can't shake that feeling that those Voidings already know they are here. And they are ready to attack at any moment.
